McCloskey won the Texas 4A individual state title and Montgomery High win its seventh straight 4A state crown this spring. With a Polo Golf ranking of 14th, she certainly can play with the top junior golfers in the world, but thatâ€™s where the similarities end.

McCloskeyâ€™s mother, Maria, hails from Cucuta, Columbia. She met Lisaâ€™s father, Jeff, when he was on a business trip for Occidental Petroleum. Without the unique twist of fate stepping in, Lisa would have never been thought of.

Along with her older brother, Jay, Lisa was born in the South American country and the family eventually found its way to Southern Texas.

The country has not been forgotten thanks to vacations back to Columbia. McCloskey was quick to defend her motherâ€™s native land, which has garnered the reputation of a drug-filled nation over the years.

â€œItâ€™s different. The infrastructure is not very good,â€ said McCloskey, who is sitting in a tie for ninth place at 8-over-par after third round action. â€œBut the people are very friendly. When I lived there I never seen (drug lords).

â€œIn the U.S., you think Columbia and you think drugs. (Americans) havenâ€™t been there, so they donâ€™t know.â€

Three golf courses surround the McCloskey house â€” New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens lives a few blocks away â€” and there is a greenside view from her back porch.

It wasnâ€™t a matter of question of if, but when she would fall in love with the game.

â€œI like that itâ€™s more mental than physical,â€ said McCloskey, who has a smooth, clean swing. â€œItâ€™s different from every other sport.â€

Golf is also very competitive, whether itâ€™s player against player or player against the course. While McCloskey enjoys the challenge, itâ€™s the personal side that attracts her to junior tournaments.

â€œItâ€™s all the people you meet,â€ McCloskey said. â€œSometimes you get gifts and youâ€™re playing really nice courses.â€

McCloskey is playing an adultâ€™s game and is doing it very well. Just donâ€™t expect her to stop being a teenager anytime soon.